Question

Most antidepressant drugs cause weight gain. While dieting can help reduce the amount of weight gained while taking such antidepressants, some weight gain is unlikely to be preventable.

The information above most strongly supports which one of the following?
A) A physician should not prescribe any antidepressant drug for a patient if that patient is overweight.
B) People who are trying to lose weight should not ask their doctors for an antidepressant drug.
C) At least some patients taking antidepressant drugs gain weight as a result of taking them.
D) The weight gain experienced by patients taking antidepressant drugs should be attributed to lack of dieting.
E) All patients taking antidepressant drugs should diet to maintain their weight.

Answer 1

The information given supports the conclusion that at least some patients taking antidepressant drugs experience weight gain as a result of the medication. It does not endorse any specific recommendations regarding prescription practices or dieting for all patients on antidepressants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that most antidepressant drugs cause weight gain and that dieting can help reduce the amount of weight gained supports the conclusion that at least some patients taking antidepressant drugs gain weight as a result of taking them. While dieting might mitigate some of the weight gain, it's noted that not all weight gain can be prevented, indicating that the drugs themselves contribute to weight gain in some patients.

This does not necessarily imply that physicians should avoid prescribing antidepressants to overweight patients (A), that people trying to lose weight should avoid antidepressants (B), that the weight gain is solely due to a lack of dieting (D), or that all patients on such drugs should diet (E). Instead, it suggests a relationship between the use of these drugs and weight gain.

Antidepressant medications have other common side effects as well and their use should be carefully considered against the potential benefits and risks, including discussions with a doctor about current medications, self-medication, and the need to report any problems with the medications as part of support and information regarding mental health conditions.